When Is It Time to Leave Thailand? Yesterday…

You know how they say when you marry someone that it’s the little shit that will get you in the end? Yeah, it’s just exactly that… but I’m not talking about my lovely wife – I can deal with all our differences, and still love her to death. I cannot give other Thais the break though. I cannot accept after 8 years that people are being so continuously disrespectful to me and to others. I see it daily. It’s wrecking my mood every time I get in a car to go out. It’s wrecking my mood every time I go to the post office and some assmonkey jumps in front of me. It is wrecking my mood to think that my daughter is going to grow up in one of the most ugly places – socially – on the planet.

I’m uploading a 10 minute video that I’m sure I’ll not make public, but I just needed to get off my chest today. Thais can’t drive for fuck, and I’m probably living in the worst area of the country for this… in Bangkok – people drive better than here. More respectful. Less dangerously.

I saw a motorbike get squeezed between a parked car and some ass in a car that just wasn’t paying attention. Saw the woman get thrown WAY over her handlebars and into the street where she was promptly run over by the same fucking car. I saw this in my side mirror. I passed the woman myself first – she wasn’t driving crazily on the motorbike, slow and carefully. I thought – fuck me – that could have been my wife, who is VERY careful when driving. It’s the idiot drivers that have never had a car in their lives, their parents never had one, and they think they’re driving a tractor around the pineapple plantation or something. I don’t know what excuse there could possibly be for the atrocious level of driving here in this city. It’s beyond all conjecture. I can’t even come up with any reason that would make sense. Maybe one of you know?

When I first arrived in Thailand’s northeast, I had the misfortune to meet a 60 year old American expat that I am 99% sure was molesting kids. Before I’d come to that conclusion we had a lunch together and he told me that within 7 years, I’d be nearly or as jaded as he was about living in Thailand. I said, nah, I can see it for all that it is. I have a masters in psychology – that counts for something, I thought. So did he though, a fact I repressed at the time.

So, it has taken me 8 years. I wish he wasn’t right, but it has definitely happened for me. It’s time for a change. A big change. It is time to get the fuck out of Dodge, or, change the entire country. Which might be easier? I ask myself daily.

I don’t want to be one of those expats that hangs on for a couple years, bitching about life in Thailand – and continuing to live here. When I first arrived I avoided those expats like they had the HIV. I could definitely see me getting very outspoken about the way Thailand functions in the next couple of months, or even up to a year if we stay that long. I could definitely see me putting out heaps of videos about the negative things going on in the country that will eventually turn your stomach too if you live here for long.

I could definitely see me writing a joke book about the country, oh wait, I already did. I could see me finally publishing it after sitting on it for 6 years.

I could see me being turned away at the border for having thoroughly torqued off everyone who is anyone in the country.

I could see all that happening, or nothing at all as I just try to stay under the wire and get the hell out cleanly without burning any bridges.

OK, then chime in and lets beat this to death… either way, I’m OK with it…

Author: Vern

I'm an American expat living in Thailand. I like to write informative pieces about life in, living in Thailand, including topics like: Thai People, Thai Culture, Nightlife, Technology, and I have published a lot of photographs, videos, and even books on Thailand that you can find at ThailandeBooks.com. There are many photographs of Thailand here - feel free to share with attribution (a link back to the home page).
All written content on this site by Vern Lovic. Contact me at Google+.
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8 thoughts on “When Is It Time to Leave Thailand? Yesterday…”

Hi Everyone. I’ve been searching for a place to land for sometime. Thought TH might be about right. I looked into Costa Rica, and it seems it is just too complicated right now, there immigration department is getting too bogged down with applications for visa’s. I have always lived in the US, but now want to leave. It’s unfortunate that the Thai, culture has shifted toward the worse. Perhaps it’s just the nature of the world. Good luck to all.

The lack of politeness I’ve not experienced much here after only 4 mos. I don’t drive but my wife, who is licensed in the US and an MBA says you can’t drive here like I did in Chicago or “you won’t get anywhere”.
BS.
I learned that in Chicago anyway, there’s no point in haulin’ a__ , zigzagging through traffic just to get to the next light 30 secs ahead of everyone else except to burn more gas and add wear and tear on your car. Maybe I’m wrong as I’ve never driven here and don’t look forward to the day I have to.

There’s too many cars here and little or no emission controls and I want to postpone adding to that. 50% of the cars on the road seem to be taxis so along w/the BTS I have no reason to be driving except to bring some large item home. Anytime we are thinking of going out I start to think of some way to NOT use our car to get there as even as a passenger it’s annoying.

It sounds to me like you need a break! I’ve only just started reading your blog so I have no advice as to where, and I’m sure you know where you need to go for a break better than I. ;)

I need a long break… but I’m not sure where to yet. Looking at a few different places. Japan eh? If I thought we wouldn’t spend 150-200 minimum per night on a hotel, we might go there to see what it’s all about. China too – might be good to see. Will blog about wherever we go, I’m sure…

Howzit Brudda Vern!
I hear you loud and clear about especially how Thai people drive. I think my wife is right when she said that most people in Isaan, especially farmers don’t go to driving school and/or get their drivers license and have no clue about how to drive and they go behind the wheel. I know of a Thai teacher who didn’t even go to any driving school (in which my wife and a few other people with common sense went through BEFORE stepping behind the wheel)and have her drivers license and yet she was able to drive home a brand new car from the car dealership! Her first time driving was when she drove her brand new car home! This teacher got into a fender bender when the car was not even a week old! But, from what my wife said, this is VERY common.
I think it comes down to the “never mind” attitude that I feel is taken WAY out of proportion. Its like: never mind Ill just learn how to drive when I get behind the wheel. I’m still not ready to move yet but I truly understand your frustration about here especially towards Thai drivers. One thing I do that makes me feel better is that when I see other people driving whether its cars, trucks, motorbikes, I picture monkeys operating the vehicle. It makes me feel good because when I picture monkeys, I can now see the REAL picture and NOT the false illusion before.
Kden Lataz,
Brudda Jon

Hi Vern! I am very sorry to hear you are feeling so depressed. I don’t know if it will mean something to you, but last year it was July, or August, can’t really remember, I too was EXTREMELY depressed. Mad about my country, and unhappy about pretty much every aspect of my life… Then I got across your videos… Being an animal lover myself, I went through your videos and eventually got to the subject of living in Thailand! You woke me up man! Gave me back my adventurous spirit! Not only that, but I showed the videos to some of my friends, and they absolutely LOVE THE IDEA of living in such an exotic place. So you gave a bunch of young people some great ideas, they may or may not happen, but you changed my (our) life. I have ideas of future documentaries about animals, my childhood passion, you helped me remember who I am! You are an awesome man Vern! Cheer up! Da’ Cobras be missin’ you! :)

Hi Vern, I’.I.m just packing my gear here in Connecticut for my trip back to the Philippines. I’ve had a great visit with my sons. Still happy about going back to the P.I. Maybe in 3 or 4 years I’ll feel
like you do about my home in Asia. I hope not,but,time will tell.
Please give my regards to everyone at your house.
Best wishes always,Lee

I’m not feeling so great about TH at the moment. It has been building up I guess. Over time I think most people get less tolerant of the BS, instead of more tolerant. Shouldn’t be that way. I know how to “fix” it… I can go stay at a temple for a couple months, start meditating again and that would probably fix that aspect quite thoroughly…